Electric indicator for grain-bins



Patented Deo. 1.0

Snom/Won N. PETERS. PhnmLmmmpnN, waghmgum D, C.

(No Model.)

A. O. THOMPSON & H. E. NEWTON.

ELECTRIC vINDICATOR :EUR GRAIN BINS.

IDEE@ EEE@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADRIAL C. THOMPSON AND HORACE E. NEWTON, OE GREELEY CENTER, NEBRASKA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,117', datedDecember 10, 1889.

Application mea october 17. 1889. serial No. 327,292. (Nomad.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AERIAL C. THOMPSON and HORACE E. NEWTON, citizensof the United States of America, residing at Greeley Center, in thecounty of Greeley and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electrical Indicators for Grain-Bins; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon,whichform a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electricindicators for grain or other bins, the object thereof being to providea grain bin or receptacle with a device which will indicate when the binis filled; and our invention consists in a hollow receptacle or casingwhich is adapted to be attached to the bin, said casing containing anelectric call-button,wl1ich is operated by a rod or projection attachedto a disk carried by a flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm being securedin place over the end of the casing, as will loe hereinafter fully setforth and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a diagram View showing thedevice attached to a portion of a grain-bin and connected with anannunciator.

A refers to one of the walls of the bili, forming, preferably, a part ofa grain-elevator to which our invention is applied. vB is an annunciatorof ordinary construction having several indicating devices with whichthe wires from the call-button are connected, the wires from theannunciators having batteries which operate on a closed circuit. Theannunciator is usually located in the office of the elevator, or nearthe shifting spout of the grain-elevator leg, so as to indicate that thespoutshould be shifted and that the bin is lled.

As the device operates on a closed circuit, a circuit-breaker C isinterposed between the call-button and annunciator or battery.

D refers to a cylindrical casing, preferably made of metal, having aprojecting flange d for attachingthe same to the wall A of the bin, andthis casing is provided at one end with a disk D', of non-conductingmaterial, to which a call-button E, of ordinary construction, iscentrally attached, the plates thereof being connected with 'thewires ctb. The stud c of the call-button E lies within a flared tube j', whichserves as a guide for a pin g, carried by a disk G, secured to adiaphragm II, ofexible material, which is free to`move inwardly tooperate the stud'e when pressure or the grain contacts with the same,the disk G and diaphragm being pressed outwardly by the spring-pressureof one of the make-and-break circuit-plates in the call-button. Theouter edge of the casing I) is grooved for attaching the diaphragmthereto. The diaphragm is preferably made of muslin, oil-silk, or otherflexible material which will move freely and will exclude the dust andgrain.

Severalof these devices having' the call-buttons may be attached to theinner side of a bin, and will operate when the grain reaches the levelthereof, and the saine maybe connected with the different indicators ofthe annunciator.

The device hereinbefore described is simple, cheap, and effective, andis not liable to get out of order.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim isl.ihe'coinbinatiou, with a grain bin or receptacle, of a device forindicating the maximum quantity of grain therein, and consisting of acasing attached thereto and provided with a flexible diaphragm carryinga pin and located within the bin at about the point represented by theplane reached by the grain, a circuit-closer or call-button having aplug with which the pin contacts to close the circuit, and conductorsconnecting said circuitcloser with a battery and annunciator,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with an indicator for grain-bins, of a device forindicating the maximum quantity of grain therein, and consisting of acasing located within the bili at about the point represented by theplane reached by -IOO the grnili,z1nd provided with a flexiblediziphralgm, 51. circuit-closer or Call-button located within saideasing and ndapled to be operated thereby, conductors con heeledtherewith, and :L battery-annunciator and hand-operated circuit-breakerincluded in the circuit, substantially as described, :md for the purposesot forth.

In Testimony whereof we affix our Signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ADRIAL (l. THOMPSON. HORACE E. NElYlON.

\\'itnesses:

M. Il. NUGENT, H. YoU-NG.

